1sts win at Laurelvale, 2nds lose to Lisburn
The 1st XI continued their good start to the season with a last over win at Laurelvale in the Lagan Valley Steel T20 Shield, while the 2nds lost their opening league game in the last over at Pollock Park.
At Laurelvale the home side batted first in light rain and lost their first wicket with the 3rd ball of the game, Callum Grieve having Malik caught by Stephen Johnston. Tight bowling by all the Lurgan bowlers restricted the home team to 42 runs in the first 10 overs. However a partnership between Sinton (37) and former Lurgan skipper Craig Irwin (32no) helped the home side to a total of 102 for 5 wkts in their 20 overs. Callum Grieve took 2 wkts for 16 in his 4 overs, Callum Gibson took 1 for 24 in 4 and Iqbal Khan 1 for 26 off 4.
In reply Lurgan’s innings started off slowly with Stephen Johnston being dismissed in the second over for 1 and then Callum Grieve had to retire hurt shortly afterwards. As last week, Stephen Chambers again provided the backbone to the Lurgan innings finishing undefeated for the second week running just one short of his half century. However it was the explosive burst by Callum Gibson whose innings of 36, which included 5 sixes, that swung the game in Lurgan’s favour. Stephen Chambers hit the winning runs off the 2nd last ball to leave Lurgan the victors by 6 wkts.
At Pollock Park, the 2nds batted first against Lisburn 3rds in light rain and it was Neil Hinds who held the home sides innings together, hitting 43 including 7 boundaries . Mark McShane scored 15 as the home side set a target of 104.
For Lisburn, opener Marsh played a crucial innings of 32 but it was the 24 extras that Lurgan conceded that proved the real difference between the two sides with the visitors hitting the winning runs in the last over to win by 6 wkts. Manav Tyagi claimed 2 wickets for 15 in his 4 overs while Adam Johnson took 1 for 9 off 4 and Connor Rankin 1 for 18 off 2.
